Bilge block gear for dry docks



Jan. 2, 1962 c. J. FOSTER 3,015,214

BILGE BLOCK GEAR FOR DRY DOCKS Filed July 26, 1957 Mm W United States Patent O 3,015,214 BILGE BLOCK GEAR FOR DRY DOCKS Christopher J. Foster, Sands Point, N.Y. (44 Whitehall St., New York 4, N.Y.) Filed July 26, 1957, Ser. No. 674,401 1 Claim. (Cl. 61-66) My invention relates to an improvement in bilge block gear for iloating dry docks. The conventional bilge block gear comprises a movable bilge block resting on a long steel plate runner. This runner plate is wider than the base on which it is mounted and is elevated several inches above the pontoon deck. The bilge block is on both its sides provided with a pair of straps bent at the end to grip the edges of the runner plate in order to prevent the block from rising when it is submerged. The edges of the runner plate act also as guides for the bilge blocks when they are being pulled back and forth on the runner plate. A serious drawback to the elevated bilge block runners is that they interfere with the truck traffic on the ponton deck which in the large modern dock encompasses an area of more than two acres. As the modern ship towers more than sixty feet above the pontoon deck and very high scaffolding is required for the servicing of such large vessels an interference every eight feet by the elevated bilge block runners, makes it a costly and hazardous proposition to move such scaffolding trucks back and forth along the ships side. Further the space below the protruding edges of the runner plates becomes fouled by sand, dirt and ice which prevents `the free pulling of the blocks over the runner plate.

My invention has for its objection to substitute the elevated runner plate with two side angles mounted on the bilge blocks and somewhat raised above the bottom thereof and extending beyond the bilge blocks so as always to engage two pairs of rail clips that are preferably welded to a steel plate that may be rabbeted into a timber deck so that the deck becomes flush between the rail clips that are preferably spaced 30 inches apart to allow for wheel passage. The clips are adapted to grip the edge of the side angles and prevent the block from rising when it is submerged, and also to guide the blocks laterally. The length of the bilge block angles for a 4 long bilge block then becomes ve feet 3" and the outjutting angle ends are provided with spreader pipes to the center of which the chain shackles of the hauling gear is shown attached. As seen in my preferred arrangement there is no chance for dirt or sand to accumulate and the scaffold trucks may be safely moved back and forth without danger of tipping.

In the drawing FIGURE 1 shows a top view of my preferred bilge block gear. FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof. FIGURE 3 is a cross-section of the bilge block runner and shows the end elevation of the bilge block that is held in position by the rail clips attached to the runner plate. FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a detached rail clip adapted to be welded to the runner plate. FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the runner 3,015,214 Patented Jan. 2, 1962 ICC plate showing the rail clip arrangement thereon with a bilge block resting thereon` In the drawing where like reference characters designate corresponding parts 1 denotes my preferred bilge block which is made up of several timbers dogged together in the conventional manner. At the bottom of the bilge block and slightly elevated there is provided two guide angles 2 which are attached to the bilge block by the lag screws 3. The ends of the angles which project at each end of the bilge block, there is provided spreader pipes 4 to which the chain shackles 5 are attached and to which the hauling chains 6 in turn are fastened. The angles are made sufficiently long to engage at all times two adjoining pairs of rail clips 7. The rail clips are shown welded to the runner plate 8 that is spiked to the decking 9 by the Hush spikes 10. I have shown the runner plates rabbeted into the deck of a timber oating dry dock.

It is obvious that in the shown arrangement there are no corners or recesses into which dirt and sand can collect and the blocks therefore will slide more easily and unhindered. Also the fact that the rail clips which are only 1% high and 2 square and placed 30 apart will permit the wheels of the scaffold trucks to pass between them so that the high towering scaffolds may readily be moved back and forth without danger of tipping over and without having to bridge or otherwise overcome the interference of the elevated bilge block runner now in universal use in dry docks. It is apparent that I have provided a bilge block gear that contributes an improvement over the prior art and I wish to be understood to obtain such modifications that properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claim.

I claimt:

In a dry dock a bilge block gear, said gear comprising a runner plate ush with the deck for the bilge block, two rows of clips defining the bilge block track by a lateral spacing substantially equal to the width of the block, a pair of angles attached to the lower portion of the bilge block and of a length engaging at all times two of the clips on each side of the bilge block, and hauling means attached to the lower portion of the bilge block.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 113,871 Gibbons Apr. 18, 1871 321,916 Staples July 7, 1885 485,007 Grosh Oct. 25, 1892 682,338 OBrien Sept. 10, 1901 704,358 McCullough July 8, 1902 936,676 Smoke Oct. 12, 1909 979,220 Taber Dec. 20, 1910 1,693,607 Kellett Dec. 4, 1928 2,314,200 Drake Mar. 16, 1943 2,647,647 Alimanestiano Aug. 4, 1953 2,670,119 Spluvak Feb. 23, 1954 

